Severe forearm and elbow pain long term

[Astroyboy]

I am 50yrs old on perm DA and I'm at the end of my rope nerve wise. I used tobe a extremely active person working out with weights and training in martail arts, also shot competitive archery. I first developed burning pain in my forearms and elbows in my early 30's, any type of bicep or pulling exercises severely bothered me. I had severe tendenihtous and had to stop doing any weightlifting for quite awhile, I starting working out again, but didn't do any bicep or back exercises. I got severely sick looseing weight,strength and aching in all my joints,tendons and nerves, but my forearms,elbows and back were the worst. I went everywhere looking for help after a few years I was diagnosed with severe Lyme disease, while others said I had fibrymilgia or both. I was treated with I/V and oral anti-biotics on pain meds and anti-inflamatory drugs, it didn't help, I tried accupuncture,p/t,cortizone injections,and different meds even steroids, no relief, I went from DR. to Dr. trying to get help and was slowly broken down and forced on D/A it has destroyed the quality of my life. Mostly all of my pain responds to PT mainly aquatic so I swim and do exercies in the water several days a week. but my forearms and elbow pain hasn't improved. I'm on a pain management program wearing a 50microgram fendenol Patch and takeing ultracet when the patch isn't enough. I was at the Hand center and had the EMI test to look for blockages in my wrists and elbows and nothing conclusive was found, I asked to try any surgery possible, but they felt it wouldn't help. I really can't take haveing no life, and depending on meds to get thru each day much longer, my elbows lock in place when I am able to sleep, it feels like someone sliced open my forearms with a razor and poured salt in the wounds. I need to get off the meds and get my life back and will try anything to do so. Please help.

[Astroyboy]

  I had the nerve stimulation test done on both arms looking for carpal tunnel, the test showed that to be negative, not sure if they did a dopplar scan. Non-diabetic,thyroid checked and good,lopus negative. I did have Severely bad Lyme's disease that was caught late and the anti-biotics didn't help. I was told since my arms and back were weak to begin with and a problem area the lymes attacked those areas first.
   In searching the internet it acts like a severe case of tennis elbow, the pain radiates from the elbow joint and follows the bone on the side of my thumbs, all along that bone it is extremely tender and it radiates a terrible burning pain that has never left me in many years. I'm going to go to the Rothmann institute of Sports medicine they deal with alot of joint and sports related injuries, I don't know if an elbow replacement would help but plan to find out, any further thoughts?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Burning pain in forearm and elbows can be due to carpal tunnel syndrome if all other conditions are ruled out. Generally a nerve stimulation test is conclusive. It can also be due to deep vein thrombosis. A dopplar scan can be diagnostic.
Other possibilities are peripheral neuropathies as in diabetes, thyroid disorders, Lyme's and lupus.
Hormonal imbalance can also be a cause.
Since I cannot examine you and know other related conditions you may be having, nor is a detailed history possible on net, I have listed the various possibilities that should be looked into. Please consult your PCP to run tests and examination to clinch a diagnosis.
Take care!